West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-05-13

him.
Yours, truly, THos L. RossER."
AS matter of course that class
Of Union soldiers, who became ex-
ceedingly brave after the danger was
passed but never heard bullet
whistle in battle, pretend to find
great ofense in Rosser's letter. This
is natural, but amusing. The peo-
pie of the South, and especially the
men who did the real fighting. bear
no malice toward any Federal sol
dier who, in the line of duty, did
acts that brought suffering. In
stances of individual hardship were
inevitable and caused little comment
at the time they occurred. The peo-
pie Of the South distinguish acts of
war from that of wanton cruelty
which charactized Sheridan's de-
struction of property IN this valley.
His orders required him to destroy
such property rs might be used to
subsist an army, but they did not
authorize him to burn private resi-
dences or to insult deienseless wo-
men and children. We do not say
Sheridan was personally present
when wanton barbarity was perpe-
trated, but we do say that if he had
been actuated by proper instincts he
would have been diligent to prevent
them; we do say that the women
and children of this valley were not
insulted and private residences were
not plundered except while he was
in command here; and we do say
that it was notorious at the time
that he made no effort to keep his
troops within the bounds of civilized
war. In every Southern village
Confederate and Federal soldiers are
walking side by side in private en-
ployment, with the same present and
with the same hopes for the future:
but they are not the men who insult
ed helpless women during the war.
He who was a brute between 81 and
'65 is brute to-day and will be os
tracised here presently rs he will be
in any decent community at the
North. Should Sheridan come to
the valley he will not be treated
with indignity but he will not
be noticed by the respectable men,
bers Of the society. Professional
lickspittles may fawn upon him as
hungry hound follows the man
with bone,sbut gentlemen will not
accept his society. There is room
enough in this world for Sheridan
and for the kindred of the insulted
women he made no effort to protect.
He can travel our highways unmo-
Tested, but he will not be invited to
our homes. The day is far distant
when the cruelties of the Duke of
Alva in the Netherlands will be used
in argument to sustain his reputa
ton as general.
Rosser's letter being published in
the papers general Edwards, writing
without Seridan's knowledge, print
ed the following,
WARSAW, ILL, May It'll.
Such soldiers as Gen. Rosser and
Major Conrad will surely acknowl-
edge it to be soldiers duty to obey
the orders of those in authority over
him. | know that Gen. Sheridan,
while in command of the Federal
forces in the Shenandoah Valley,
was acting under an order from the
War Department, and signed by
Gen. Halleck, chef of staff, to desc
late the valley from Winchester as
far rs possible towards Stamton. |
quote the order: TO destroy all
forage and provisions, all barns and
outhouses and all unoccupied dwell
lings, houses and fences. In short,
you will make such complete desc
lation that should a crow attempt
the passage of the valley he would
have to carry his own subsistence or
starve on the route The object Of
this order from the War Department
was to prevent Gen. Lee from send
ing troops in light marching order
to subsist on the country through
the valley to threaten Washington
and interfere with the siege of Rich
mond, and it was considered nee
essary war measure.
whenever our army occupied
place where there were both Union
and disunion elements, as at Win
chester, there we found much bitter
feeling. Wounded soldiers from
Crooks Army of Western Virginia,
in hospitals at Winchester, after the
battle of the Opequon, one very win
DIV day set fire to your town. near the